"Eustaf!"
Ran called him up as soon as the class was over. Eustaf stopped and spun around like an automatic doll.
"Yes, Noonim."
Ran smiled awkwardly and sneaked out a ceramic plate from the desk. The plate with green vines and raspberries on it was imported from the small kingdom and was an expensive item.
On top of it was a crispy baked snack.
"Let's eat together, okay?"
Eustaf looked indifferently at his step sister, who spoke while sticking out a plate. It's been quite a while since I ate sweets.
I didn't hate it, but I had nothing to eat. Sugar was expensive, and milk production was not much in the cold Lazia.
Sugar, butter, and white flour are all luxury items.
A duke might say that he would have that much time, but at least he ate snacks was so small that it was considered a small thing.
Eustaf looked at the snacks.
'What's wrong with her?'
Questions rose from his heart again. At the same time, alertness was aroused. Ran, who was on the verge of death because of himself, was trying to be nice to him afterwards.
She tried to spend time together, talked to each other, asked to play together, and often tempted to eat like this.
Silence pressed down on the study room with the cookie plate between them.
Ran asked with a suspicious face.
"Don't you like sweets?"
"Yes."
He gave a firm answer and looked at her complexion. Ran looked embarrassingly down at the snack and looked at him.
"It's probably not that sweet."
'Did you take poison instead?'
I swallowed the sarcastic question behind my neck. Even though it may seem kind on the outside, the inside was unknown. It bothered me to pretend to be close all of a sudden, and the look at her was annoying.
One of the reasons for the annoyance was that I had to keep paying attention because I didn't know what she was thinking.
"All right."
Speaking, he took the plate out of Ran's hand. In the meantime, Ran's hands circled in the air because the plate was taken away.
"Let's eat well."
He said so and left the study room with a plate.
"...together..."
There seemed to be a small murmur behind him, but he ignored it. Back in my room, Eustaf approached the window. Under the window was a cliff-like slope. He tipped the plate and spilled all the snacks.
I didn't mean to eat in the first place.
"Master?"
As Ross, who was waiting in his room, called him in embarrassment, Eustaf said, closing the window.
"Ran gave it to me."
His face was crumpled at once.
"Unfortunate."
He coughed in vain after saying so.
"Excuse me."
Eustaf shook his head. Then I saw Ross. Should I have fed you a snack? Then you could've checked if it was poisoned or not.
'No, because he's not on my side.'
I couldn't lose my household disciple who swore allegiance. He sighed and sat as if buried deep on the sofa. Ran's changed behavior pattern was always unexpected and tiring.
But it has never been harmful to him.
That's what we studied together today.
Ran pestered his parents and offered to take a class with his tutor. The tutor expressed disapproval, but when Ran came out firm, he was forced to allow it.
After that, there was no beating on the edge of the book or slapping on the thigh with a slender whip.
'And touching my body, or making him touch my body.'
The tutor then tried to make Eustaf study the rest or have a separate time, but every time Ran followed him, saying she would be with him.
Then, she already smiled at me as if she knew everything, but it was hard for me to figure out whether she really knew it or just a foot of competition.
"I don't know what she's thinking. Is that a trick to shake her tail like her mother did?"
At Ross's words, Eustaf looked at him leaning on his armrest. Ross raised his voice even more, considering the gaze as an agreement.
"Because she's her future mistress, she look just like her mother when she try to live."
Eustaf didn't dare to say, "It would be better to put her brother, Tass, to be Patriarch rather than me being the Patriarch."
In fact, the duke's attack is getting stronger because Tass is growing.
Eustaf only saw his half-brother's face once.
It was because the Duchess thoroughly blocked her son and Eustaf from meeting. She think Eustaf's gonna jump in and strangle him or poison him.
Anyway, there was no reason for Ran to choose himself than his half-blooded half-brother.
'So it's becoming more and more of a boundary.'
If you hate it as openly as you used to, it was simple to deal with it. Close your eyes, cover your ears, bite your teeth and endure.
But this way.....
He pressed his forehead hard.
*******
"Eustaf."
After class, Ran called him again. When Eustaf turned around, Ran took out a pound cake from her desk this time.
"It's not a sweet cake. It's for your father, but I secretly brought you a piece."
Then, she says, "Let's eat together," and pushes out the plate.
Eustaf asked while looking at a piece of pound cake placed on his side.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Because it's delicious to eat together."
She smiles again when her eyes meet while speaking proudly. Emerald, emerald, emerald eyes.
Like greening of Lazia.
Avoiding her eyes, Eustaf lowered his gaze with a cake.
"I don't want to eat with you."
"You think It's poisoned?"
When asked nonchalantly, Ran said with a nonchalant smile as before.
"Close eyes then."
She picked up a fork and split the cake in half. Said Ran with her eyes closed.
"Choose what Eustaf wants to eat."
Eustaf looked down at the cake and left the room. With her eyes closed, Ran didn't seem to know he was going out.
After walking in the hallway for a long time, Eustaf stopped in front of his room. He pressed his lips with his palm.
'I ran away.'
He ran away.
Why did he run away? Ran's not a threat.
'She'll be mad the next time we meet.'
I've been trying not to offend the Duchess. I crossed the line.
But the next time I met Ran, she smiled nonchalantly.
"Eustaf, the weather's nice. Why don't you come out with me?"
Her nonchalance made him feel a curious surge of anger.
"I'm not feeling well."
Her eyes opened round at his word and Ran came a step closer. The sweet vanilla smell came to me.
"Are you okay? Where isn't well?"
"It's none of your business."
"No, I'm going to care. I'm going to use it a lot."
Eustaf said, trying not to frown at the words that she emphasized while giving strength.
"Don't compose."
"It's natural to be concerned about it. It's a family."
Family.
As soon as he heard the word, Eustaf wondered, 'Is Ran crazy?' Ran smiled awkwardly as if her nervousness was also shown on her face.
"It may sound strange, but I'm thinking so."
"I'll give you no choice."
He spoke politely but sharply. Ran opened her lips slightly and closed them. She bowed her head and said, "Yes," and withdrew.
Eustaf thought he made a mistake again.
Now she's completely turning to the Duchess.
But I couldn't stand it. He looked behind Ran's departure. Golden hair fluttered in the summer sun.
Sometimes I wondered how human hair was that color.
He consciously took his eyes away from it and turned out the window. Lazia in July was shining brightly. However, after this brief period of time, the bitter cold was likely to hit Lazia.
The barren land.
The only thing that shines is snow and ice.
'You're just like me.'
It may be natural for me to be the same as Lazia, who is mine.
The difference is that summer doesn't come to me?
Turning around, he walked in the opposite direction to Ran.
I thought it was over.
'I thought....'
Ran looked back at him, saying, "Huh?" as she felt a glaring glance.
"It's nothing...."
Eustaf said so and looked down.
She was helping him pack his things to get to the academy. Seeing the Duchess's eyes, the servants did not actively try to help him, but the story is different for a woman named Ran.
Ran said, organizing the items needed for the wooden chest.
"Make sure to contact me when you get to the Academy, okay? I'll write a letter, too."
Her chatter was endless.
It was her idea to send Eustaf to the Academy. The next Lord of the Duke of Lazia is traditionally educated by his tutor.
He was the first to go to the Academy.
There was no such law, and the people who supported Eustaf protested, but the duke did not nod. And to be honest with it, Eustaf was thankful.
Leaving the duke could quickly weaken his power, but he was not much from the beginning. The remaining thorns would receive them even if they left and returned.
If you don't, it's no use in the first place.
'And people betray everyone.'
My mother held my hand tightly and always whispered about the Lord's mindset.
- No one should you believe it. Don't let go of your heart even if they're the most loyal.
Looking at Ross staring at this side with a face full of discomfort, Eustaf thought.
He may betray himself if something else happens.
- You're alone, Eustaf. You're thoroughly alone.
I knew that, too.
The mind of the powerful is fickle to make it impossible to count. He wants to please him, but he doesn't like to see through his mind anymore.
"Eus, you're not listening to me, are you?"
"Yes."
When I answered concisely, Ran puffed up her cheek. Eustaf didn't care. Now I know it's no use reacting to each other's behavior.
"Academy, I'm sure you'll enjoy it." Ran said with a girly smile.
'And I'll save my life. At least until i'am an adult.'
That's what Eustaf thought and lowered his eyes.
The Duchess's offensive was getting sharper. It's been a few days since I couldn't even eat properly. The Academy is said to have a huge protective magic to protect the Academy's students.
At least I can spend time there comfortably.
'Can I see Lazia again?'
Cold, freeze, and barren land.
It's a land where the stepmother's greed is overwhelming, and in winter, the people freeze to death, and the land where the water is installed.
It's an honor that can be gained compared to the millennium's duty.
But he's Eustaf Laban de Lazia.
This land was everything to him.
*******
The Academy was a new chapter in his life.
It was my first time meeting so many people of my age and meeting so many peers.
'Getting attention like this.'
The Duke of Lazia seemed to receive surprisingly considerable attention.
I thought it could be because closure is a strong territory, but the eyes are also clear.
The moment he was first called in the auditorium, the flurry spreading among people, and his gaze.
I thought it would be only then, but it wasn't.
'I'm sick of it.'
Thinking so, Eustaf closed his eyes.
He had no intention of attracting outside forces to Lazia, so he did not engage in social activities. The empire is the Empire, and the Lazia is the Lazia.
However, not participating in social activities seemed to encourage more curiosity.
So he forced himself to accept some invitations, thinking that it would be quiet if he adjusted a little bit.
And the words that stepmother used to say -Lazia is a countryside, behind fashion, and rustic- I understood what she meant.
The way she spoke, dressed, accessories, and hand gestures were subtly different.
She was an unheard-of party decoration, a new hat, and a trend that moved quickly.
The feathers of this soup on the hats of the babbling young children were never heard of in Lazia.
Sometimes I didn't even know how to eat the dishes on the table.
'This is what it's usually like.'
Compared to here, Lazia is definitely dull and dark.
Only then did Eustaf understand why all the duchess stayed in the green arch. They doesn't want to be in this world and go back to Lazia.
'I only have Lazia.'
He glimpsed at the distorted and upside-down image reflected in the colorful silver crystal glass.
I couldn't think of it for long. It was because everyone came up to him and talked to him.
Everyone wondered about Eustaf and the Duke of Lazia.
They introduced themselves to their lands according to basic manners.
"Our land has beautiful wheat fields. When the wind blows in the golden field, it looks like a wolf running into the field. I really want to show you the wheat field when the sun sets."
"In the south of our estate, olives, grapes, and radishes are amazing. It is beautiful because the grapes grow endlessly. In the spring, I think I will be drunk with the fragrance of Lavender."
Then he waited for Eustaf to open his mouth. He laughed.
What should I say?
The freezing cold of people freeze to death? Horrible spells on the ice? The bodies of those torn to death are under their eyes?
Or the wilderness that can't be farmed? He chose silence.
One or two parties could tell that it would not be helpful to come out. Rather, some of the words shared there were strangely inflated and twisted and floated around.
In the end, he went to this kind of social gathering.
Everything about the academy was colorful, rich and shiny, but he thought he didn't fit in.
'Most of all, I don't have money.'
To be honest, he was penniless.
The nobles of the academy splurged on their pocket money. They was busy matching new ornaments and clothes. Despite the Academy uniform, everyone wore plain clothes on their day off.
It was a month after he entered the academy that the first letter arrived.
Along with some gold coins, it was a letter written by Ran.
- I told my parents that I should pay for your living expenses, but they won't listen.
With a lot of questions and words, she sent a letter.
Eustaf quit trying to tear up the letter. He threw the letter into the desk drawer.
She'll do it once or twice.
That's what I thought.
But Ran sent a letter without getting tired of it.
She persistently sent a long letter to the extent that the remaining friends around her said, "Hey, your sister is really sincere."
However, knowing that he had never replied, his friends frowned, calling him "a Grumpy kid."
The money she sent was gold and silver.
Rolling a worn-out coin with his fingertips, he wondered how she got it.
He didn't even know the concept of pocket money until he came to the academy. I'm curious, but he didn't ask.
It's useless to think about Lan's behavior. Now that I'm used to her friendly tone and persistence, I could be indifferent.